rekocu MARK V. HOLDEN SENDA VICE PRESOENT (GENERAL COUNSEL & SECRETARY March 5, 2015 Senator Barbara Boxer Senator Edward J. Markey United States Senate United States Senate 112 Hart Senate Office Building 218 Russell Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510 Washington, DC 20510 Senator Sheldon Whitehouse United States Senate 530 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510 Dear Senators Boxer, Markey, and Whitehouse: 1am responding on behalf of Koch Industries, Inc,, its subsidiaries, and affiliates (“Koch”) to your February 25, 2015 letter, requesting information from the past 10 years “about Koch Industries’ payments made in support of scientific research and scientists, as well as support for other efforss related to climate change, if such payments have been made.” You also explain that you are “interested in understanding how [Koch] has undertaken such efforts and the degree to which these efforts have been publicly disclosed.” The activity and efforts about which you inquire, and Koch’s involvement, if any, in them, are at the core of the fundamental liberties protected by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution. To the extent that your letter touches on matters that implicate the First Amendment, [am sure you recognize Koch’s right to participate in the debate of important public policy issues and its right of free association. These rights have been recognized by the United States Supreme Court. In reviewing your letter, I did not see any explanation or justification for an official Senate Committee inquiry into activities protected by the First Amendment. 916.828.3054 Te! 316.628.3133 Fox 4111 East 37%h Strest North ‘Wiahas, Kaneae 67520" mark iden ochindcomSenators Boxer, Markey & Whitehouse March 5, 2015 Page 2 Under the circumstances, we decline to participate in this endeavor and object to your apparent efforts to infringe upon and potentially stifle fundamental First Amendment activities. ‘Thank you for your attention to this matter. Respectfully submitted, Wand V. 4A Mark V. Holden